Casket supporting and transferring device.



. c. A. ALBRECHT CASKET SUPPORHNG AND TRANSFERRING DEVICE.

. APPLICATION FILED JUNEZI, I916. 1 0:

= Pawnee. Oat. 9,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. A. ALBRECHT. CASKET SUPPORTING AND TRANSFERRING DEWCE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE27| 19i6.

Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- (Hum/who; cfifiza re /t C. A. ALBRECHT. CASKET SUPPORTING AND TRANSF-ERRING DEVlCE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1916. 1,242A10. Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- M W m a un .v s

CARL A. ALBRECHT, or GALION, OHIO.

CASKET SUPPORTING AND TRANSFERRINGVDEVICEV;

neeaaio.

To all whom it may concern: I 7

Be it known that I, CARLA. ALBRECHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gallon, in the county of Crawford and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Casket Supporting and Transferring Devices, ;of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention has as its object to provide a device for use in conjunction with an openended burial vault and adapted to support the casket during the last obsequies and consequently to provide means whereby the casket may be readily introduced into the vault.

Prior to the present invention much embarrassment and confus1on frequently resulted at the time of introducing the casket into the. vault, where the vault was of the open-ended type. In many cases the forward pall bearers would start theintroductionof the casketinto the vault-while the under taker would. beat therear where he would be obliged to liftthe entire casket and carry it into the vault as soon as the bearers would release their hold on the handles, which is necessary on caskets equipped with extension handles. On account of the bearers being inexperienced, they will often failto properly center the casketonthe carriage at device.

the opening in the vault. I v

The present invention therefore has as its object to provide a device which will serve in the first instance as a support for the casket during theobsequies at the grave,.the casket beingsupported in such position that one end will be presentedsquarely tothe open end of the vault, and the said device affording in the second instance means. whereby. the casket may-be readily slid or, rolled into the vault in truealinement there-- with and without any-noise being occasioned and also without the necessity of the undertaker or pallbearers grasping the under side of the casket and lifting the same.

' Anotheraim of the. invention is toso construct the device that the same may be collapsed and conveniently carried from place to place in an inconspicuous manner and readily and quickly setup at the gravein condition-for use. 3

Another aim ofthe invention-is to so construct the device that thesame will support the casket a suitable-distance above the ground surface and in perfectly level posi- Specification of Letters Patent.

tion, the supporting legs of the device being adjustable as to length to compensate. for inequalities in the ground surface.

. In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the ,de Vice illustrating the manner of its use; 7 Fig. 2 is a top plan view'of the device; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan viewin detail; Fig. 4 is avertical longitudinal sectional view on the line H of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; I .Fig. 6 is a group perspective view illustratingthe support provided for certain of. the rollers of the devicey q f F ig. 7 is a bottom plan viewof the device collapsed;. Q r "1- Fig. 8 is a. sectional View on theline 8; 8

Fig. 9 is a perspective view ofone end of. the device looking'at the under side thereof, the supporting legs of the. device being shown folded and the device being in condition to be collapsed as shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 10 is a group perspectiveviewillus trating the elements comprising one ofthe supporting legs; .V l

Fig. 11 is a side elevation ofone side member of the device illustrating the manner of supporting another one of the-rollers ofthe Corresp'ondingv and like parts are; referred to, in the following cescription-andindicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters,

The device embodying the presen inven tion consists primarily of'a frame whichis preferably' of oblong rectangular fol-mend, which includes sides .1 and ends 2. The members of the frame are preferably'formed from L angle iron and each side member includes an upper horizontally disposed wing 3 anda vertical wing't, each end member having a horizontally disposed wing 5 and a vertical wing 6. l

The sides and ends of the frame are as sembled with the wings ,3 ofthe side mem bers overlapping the ends of'the wings 5 of the end members as clearly shown inFig'sv 3, 4 and 9-of the drawings andthe over lapped ends of the said frame members are connected by means of pivots Tadapting the frame to assume a rectangular form 01 when the device is not in-use, adapting the; entire-frame t0 be oollapsed to about the,

Patented Oct. e, 1917'. Application filed June 27,191 I serial No. 106,189. i i

form shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. By reference particularly to Fig. 3 it will be observed that the diagonally opposite corners of the wings 5 of the end members are rounded as indicated at, 8 concentric to the pivots 7 the end edges of the said wings at their other diagonally opposite corners affording shoulders 9 designed to strike against the inner sides of the wings 4 of the respective side members of the frame so that while the rounded corners 8 permit of the frame being collapsed or, in other words, provide for free pivotal movement of the sides and ends of the frame at the corners thereof, the abutment of the shoulders 9 against the wings 4: of the side members, when the frame is extended or set up, will limit such pivotal movement when the frame has been caused, to assume a rectangular shape. The frame is provided at each of its four corners with a supporting leg which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 10 of the draw ings and each of these legs comprises a pair of relatively adjustable sections one of which is indicated in general by the numeral 10 andthe other by the numeral 11. The section 10 comprises a wing 12 and a wing 13 and the latter wing is pivoted as at 1 k to the inner sideof the wing 6 of the re spective end member of the frame and the adjacent corner of the wing 13 is rounded as at 15 so as to provide for freepivotal movement of the section 10 upon the pivot 14. The corresponding end of the other wing which is indicated at 12, however, extends at right angles to'the lateral edges of the said wing so that when the said section 10 is swung upon its pivot to extend vertically beneath the frame, this said end of thewing 12 will rest'against the under side of the wing 5 of the respective end member of the frame and the leg as a whole will be braced in such position. The section 11 of each leg comprises a wing 16 and a wing 17 and the first mentioned wing is formed with a threaded opening 18 receiving the threaded shank of a set screw 19 which is fitted through a slot 20 formed longitudinally in the wing 12 of the respective section 10 and which may be tightened for the purpose of holding the section 11 at adjustment with relation to the section 10. It will be understood at this point that the sections 11 of the several legs of the device may be adjusted with relation to the respective sections 10 to compensate for inequalities in the ground surface and permit of the frame of the device being supported in horizontal position. When it is desired to collapse the device, however, the set screws 19 are to be loosened. after which the sections 11 are to he slid inwardly so as to be completely housed within the angle between the wings 12 and 13 of the respective sections 10 after which the legs may be folded to lie bodily within the angles formed between the wings 5 and 6 of the end members of the frame to which they are connected and shown clearly in Fig. 9 of the drawings. It will. be observed that the outer corner of the wing 17 of each section 11 at theinner end thereof is rounded as at 21 so that when the section 11 is slid inwardly as above stated, the leg as a whole may be moved upon its pivot 14 without interference on the part ofthe wing 5 of the end member to, which it is connected. It will also be understood ,by reference to the drawings that the wing 16 of the section 11 of each leg is disposed against the inner face of the wing 12 of the section 10 and that the wing 17 of each said section 11 will oppose the wing 13 of the section 10 and will be spaced therefrom.

In order, to prei'ent accidental inward folding of the legs while, the device is in use, braces 22 are connected at their inner ends as at 23 by a common pivot'to the depending wing 6 of each ofthe end members of the frame and at their outer ends these braces are provided with notches 2a adapting their said ends for engagement with headed studs 25 carried by the wings 13 of the respective leg sections 10. It will be ob served that the pivots 23 are located midway between'the ends of the respective end members of the frame and that: the braces 22, in the set up position of theldevice, eX

tend downwardly in opposite directions from the said pivot to engage the said studsv 25. ,However, when the device is to be collapsed theouter ends of the braces are to be disengaged from the studs 25 whereupon the braces may be swungupon their pivots to. extend along the inner face of the said wing 6 0f the respective'end member as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

As above stated, when the. frame is extended orset up for use the shoulders 9 will limit the pivotal movement of the frame members after the frame as a wholehas assumed rectangular form and in order to brace the frame so as to cause it to maintain this shape while inuse, a brace 26 is pivoted as at 2'7 atone end to the under side of the wingB of each side member of the frame near one end of the said member and is provided at its free end with a notch 28 adapting its said end for engaging with the headed'stud 29 carried upon the under side of the wing 5 of the adjacent end member of the frame, the said braces 26 in this position extending diagonallyof the diagonally op-. posite corners of the frame as a whole asv clearly shown in Figs. 1, v2 and 3 of the drawings. When the devlce is not in use the braces 26 may be swung upon their piv ots to lie within the angles formed between the wings of the respective side members of the frame as clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the i a drawings.

' the vault in a noiseless manner and without likelihood of the bottom of the casket catching upon any portion of the frame, casket supporting rollers are mounted to extend transversely of the frame in amanner which will now be explained.

Y Secured upon-the upper side ofthe wing 3 of each side member of the frame is a series of brackets including upstanding spaced portions between which are rotatably mounted roller bearings 31, a pair of such bearings being mounted in each of the brackets and the brackets being located at corresponding points upon the two side members of the frame. Eachof the casket supporting rollers above referred to includes a cylindrical body 32 which may be hollow or solid, either as found desirable, and which is provided at each end with a trunnion 33.

The trunnions 33 are also cylindrical and when the device is to be set up for use the rollers 32 are disposed with their trunnions 33 resting between the roller bearings of correspondmg pairs in the manner shown 1n Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings. After the frame of the device has been set up inthe manner heretofore explained and the-casket supporting rollers 32 have been placed in position as shown in the draw ngs, the casket may be disposed upont-he "saidrollrs as shown in Fig. 1 andthus supported during the obsequies.

duce the casket into the vault, this may be VVhenit "is desired to introaccomplished by pushing against that end of the casket which is remote from the openend of the vault whereupon the casket will slide readily and noiselessly over the rollers without likelihood of lateral displacement and without requiring any attention onthe part of the pall bearers, the funeraldirector alone being required to move the casket.

The drawings illustrate the use of three of the casket supporting rollers-but it will be understood that a greater or less number may be employed if founddesirable. It

will also be observed that the trunnions'of the rollers are merely disposed to rest be tween the roller bearings of the several pairs and that therefore the rollers may be readily removed from their bearings when it is de sired to collapse the device. In order that when the device is collapsed all parts thereof may be conveniently carried and housed within a minimum space, it is contemplated that the casket supporting rollers shall be supported in a suitable manner within the angles formed between the wings of the side members of the frame, and assuming that three such rollers are employed, means is provided upon one of the side members for supporting a pair of the rollers and means is provided upon the other side member for able manner within the angle between the,

wings of one of the side members of the frame and the aperture of each ear is de signed to receive one trunnion ofione of the pair of rollers to be supported. Thus the other trunnions of the said pair of rollers will be located close to each other'andpresentedend to end and as ameans for engaging 'and supporting both of the said trunnions there is provided a bracket comprising a body portion indicated by the numeral which portion is provided at one longitudinal edge with an angularly extend ing flange 36 and at the opposite edge with a shank 37 which is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 38. Theshank 37 is disposed against the outer face of therdepending; wing f the said side member of the frame and secured in place by means of a setscrew 39 fitted through the slot 38 and adjustably threaded into an opening 40 formed in the said wing 4. Prior to engaging'the trunnions of the said rollers in the bracket, the set: screw is loosened and the bracket is allowed to dropaway from the side member whereupon the trunnions mayv be swung over the edge of the flange 36 and into the angle between the said flange and the bodyi portion 35; fWhen the trunnions have been; thus disposed the bracket is moved" upwardly toward the side member and the set screwis tightened so as to support thebracketin' place'and consequently V I supportthe said trunnions. It willbe observed by reference to Fig. 7 of the draw ings that the remote ends of the bodies'of the two rollers bear against the apertured ears 34 and that the adjacent endsof the bodies of the rollers bear against the oppo side member of the frame is provided with an apertured ear 4lto'receive one trunnion of the said roller and this ear is fixed with relation to the said side member. The other trunnion of the roller is engaged in an apertured ear 42 carried at one end of a plate 43 which is disposed slidably against the inner face of the depending wing of the said side member and this said plate is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 44 for the passage of the threaded shank of a set screw 45 the said shank fitting into a nut 46 which bears against the said plate 43 when the set screw is tightened. After the first 'mentioned trunnion of the said roller has been engaged in the aperture of the ear 41, the plate 43 may be slid so as to permit of the engagement of the other trunnion of the roller in the aperture in its ear 42 after a which the plate may he slid back to its original position and the set screw tightened to hold it against accidental displacement.

I do not wish to be limited to the specific details of construction, illustrated and described, but reserve the right to make any changes, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention,

what is claimed as new is:

4 1. In a device of the class described, a frame comprising side and end members pivotally connected at the corners of the frame whereby the frame may be collapsed, the side members comprising angle bars the upper wings of which overlap the ends of the end members of the frame, and the said end members of the frame each having their diagonally opposite corners rounded to permit of pivotal movement of the said frame members toward collapsing position, the other diagonally opposite corners of the said members constituting shoulders designed to abut against the other wings of the side members of the frame to limit the pivotal movement of the frame members in a direction to extend the frame, and casket supporting rollers mounted in the frame.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame having frame members of angle iron construction, a casket supporting roller removably mounted in the said frame and extending transversely thereof, a fixed bracket within the angle of one of the frame members to support one end of the said roller when the device is not in use and the roller is disposed within the angle of the said member, and an adjustable bracket arranged within the angle of the said member for the support of the other end of the said roller.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame having frame members of angle iron construction, a casket supporting roller removably mounted in the frame and having Copies of this patent may be obtained for naeae o end trunnions, a fixed support for oneof the said trunnions in the angle of one of the frame members, and a support for engage ment with the other trunnion of the roller movable into and out of supporting position.

i. In a device of the class described, a frame having frame members of angle iron construction, a; casket, supporting roller 1 removably mounted in the'frame and having end trunnions, a fixed support for one of the said trunnions in the angle of one of the frame members, a support for engagement with the other trunnion of the roller movable into and out of supporting position, and means for holding the last-mentioned sup port in position for such engagement.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame having frame members of angle iron construction, rollers removably mounted within the frame and having end trunnions, spaced relatively fixed brackets within the angle of one of the frame members to receive the remote trunnions of rollers dis posed within the said angle of the frame members in axial alinement with each other, and a bracket member adjustablyv mounted upon the frame member betweenthe firstmentioned brackets and adjustable to engage the adjacent trunnions of the said rollers.

6. In a device of the class described, a

frame, legs supporting the frame at the corners thereof and each comprising a fixedand an ad us'table sectlon, each section hav-'' ing relatively angularly disposed wings, one wing of the adjustable section being disposed against one wing of the relatively fixed section, and means adjustably con necting the said wings, the other wing of the relatively fixed section being pivoted to the frame and the other wing of the adjustable section being spaced from and located opposite the last-mentioned wing of the relatively fixed section.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CARL A. ALBRECHT. [n 5.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ZE'atents, Washington, D. G. 

